What is the racing like in the upper midwest? What tracks do people frequent? Is there a good NASA or SCCA region in the area?

 

Tracks in the area are Brainerd, Road America and Blackhawk Farms. Nothing is a short tow.
The SCCA Region (Land O' Lakes) just started running Brainerd again after many years where the track was not sanctioned.

 

Chris,
The Twin Cities is home to a great PCA region (Nord Stern) and a very active group of club racers. Kurt is correct that Brainerd and Road America are the "local" tracks but you will find MN racers doing pretty well at PCA events across the country.
Jim

 

Brainerd looks like about 2 hours, Elkhart Lake is about 5 hours and Blackhawk Farms is almost 5 hours. What are these track like to race on? What was the SCCA's issue with Brainerd? Looks like PCA only races at Road America of these three tracks.

What do TC racers do? Move to another location? Take up another sport? Tow long distances?

 

Long distance tows really; You can get to Mid-Ohio, Gingerman, Heartland Park, Putnum Park in a weekend, some of the others require a bit more planning. I'm near Green Bay and have grown used to the long tows. I'll second Jim's post, Nord Stern has a great bunch of racers, and you will likely find one of us a most any PCA race this side of the Rockies

 

PCA has raced at Brainerd for the last 18 years and will be racing there again this coming August. In addition the Nord Stern region of PCA hosts four three day weekend DE's at Brainerd each year, including the August club race, plus hosts a two day midweek DE at Road America, normally the Monday and Tuesday before the KIC, the big vintage race in July.

Per capita number of members Nord Stern region has the largest percentage of PCA club racers of any region in PCA and in fact at one point had the most club race license holders of any region (until passed by Chicago region).

The tow to Brainerd is four lane divided highway to the track from the Twin Cities and the two to Road America is four lane divided highway to Fond du Lac with the last few miles two lane so the tows are easy.

I think you'll find that the competition is very challenging with the level of driving ability and car prep quite high. Something about driving on snow and ice a substantial part of the year means most NS racers are comfortable with a loose car.

If you are moving to the Twin Cities, please don't hesitate to contact any of us directly and we'll get you connected with the locals.

Bruce